This is a new book by a new author named Devon Eriksen. This is a book that I also see spreading like wildfire because I am seeing it everywhere. So Theft of Fire spreading like wildfire? Coincidence? I think not.
The reason why I know of this book is really because Christine Eriksen is marketing the heck out of this story which I have to commend. She is giving these traditional publishers a run for their money.
One thing that stuck out to me when checking out this book is that people are really enjoying it. And some of those people are … billionaires. Really, I am not joking here.
John Carmack, Garry Tan, John Walker.
Now did I know who these people were before making this review, no, no I did not but still, these three are singing high praises to their massive amount of followers about this book.
Theft of Fire, more like Theft of Billionaires Heart… Sorry, bad joke.
Now, I am not saying that just because certain people like a book that it necessarily makes it good. It does help though to get eyes on that book. It doesn’t hurt!
So getting to the thumbnail, did Elon Musk read this book. No, maybe, I don’t know but anything is possible. So was it click bait using his face on my thumbnail, possibly but but… Tesla is in the book so double the reason to use him on the thumbnail.
Ok, so now that we established that billionaires are loving this book, average Joe’s like me are loving this book, the million or should I say billion dollar questions is, why?
Why is this book blowing up? How is Christine Eriksen sending this book to the moon? Is this book actually good?
I set off to answer this question so you know what I did, I sat my butt in that chair, I opened that book, and I read that book. Now I have thoughts.
“At the frozen edge of the solar system lies a hidden treasure which could spell their fortune or their destruction—but only if they survive each other first.”
Theft of Fire is sci-fi space opera that takes place in the distant future but not so distant where you will find some things very familiar.
This is a story of a hemorrhaging asteroid miner who is just trying to make ends meet and get through the day when his whole world is turned upside down. Where this all starts, well it’s when a beautiful but super genetically modified woman is suddenly aboard his spaceship and is making a sandwich.
Now, this is just where the story starts and we go so many directions in this story. I read this book a lot quicker than I normally do so that is a good sign right?
Yes, yes it is. I loved it!
There was so much that I really enjoyed out of this story.
Action, humor, relatable characters, really cool technology, and of course a mystery that involves a heist type of operation. All of this is wrapped together into a fun enjoyable story that really felt like a movie. I could picture so many scenes vividly in my head.
I’ve seen from a few people that they described this book as hard sci-fi but to me, it didn’t really feel like hard sci-fi because the plot was at the forefront of this story, at least in my opinion. The plot, the characters, and the action first come to mind for me compared to “hard sci-fi elements”.
This does not mean there are not hard sci-fi elements because there are many moments and elements in this story that deal with how certain things work, especially technology. In some scenes, we do go into technical detail on how the spaceship functions and how it should be fixed or restored.
Plus, we have some really badass technology in here that gives me cyberpunk vibes like neural links, AI, holograms, drones, and more. Also humans have come to the point where we can modify ourselves down to the cell level where we can literally change the scent of our sweat. You want your sweat to smell like peanut butter? Well you can do that in this universe!
I didn’t even mention this just yet, there is also a sprinkle of alien technology that sparked a whole new boom of tech in this universe so there’s that too.
Now outside the cool tech, the very interesting AI that I didn’t even really talk about, and the plot, what I enjoyed probably the most out of this was the human element.
There was a huge focus on making these characters feel real and I think it was successfully done and is really another reason why it felt like a movie to me. You were right there with these characters who felt real and had real complex emotions. There’s a backstory laid out that helps you understand each of these characters’ motivations and goals. Relationships are built on the exchange of conversation. Conversations can be positive or negative. In this story, we get both and it was a lot of fun to see the relationships grow throughout all the physical conflicts that occur and also the emotional conflicts.
If I had to compare it to another book, it would be Leviathan Wakes by James S.A. Corey, the first book in The Expanse and it’s not just because they both take place in space ok. Both are very character driven with crazy intermittent actions with a pinch of humor. Ok maybe a little more than a pinch, more like a handful of humor.
So, do I think that this book will be put on a pedestal like Dune or Hyperion being hailed as one of the best sci-fi books of our generation? No, I don’t think so but that is not a bad thing. Why are we reading in the first place? To be entertained. To fall into a story and be swept away.
Theft of Fire does exactly that and overall I had a great time and I am so looking forward to book number two in this series. Uhh, I need it because I need to see what happens next.
4.5 out of 5 stars, I highly recommend it.